I've been with this company for 5 years, was basically told the director role was mine "when the time is right", put in the extra hours, led two pretty major projects, even turned down interviews last year because I actually believed them.
Then last Tuesday they do this whole little lunch thing for my work anniversary, cake and everything. Thursday same week my manager calls me to say they went with someone from outside who has "a fresh perspective." The person they hired has less industry experience than me, I looked them up.
I have a bit of money saved so im not making any panic moves but something just switched off that day. Like the loyalty part of my brain just quietly shut down and now I'm interviewing with zero guilt for the first time in years.
The weird thing is I feel more clear headed now than I have in a long time. But I guess my actual question is, at what point do you stop trying to "have a conversation" with your manager about it and just quietly find something new? Do you even bother bringing it up or just leave without that discussion